Cameo: Michael Rapaport tops list of highest-earning celebrities in UK and US on shoutout app

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They are the not-so-famous faces earning a fortune by selling personal ‘shoutouts’ for fans and their friends. 

Cameo, which this week was valued at $1bn, is filling the pockets of film stars and public figures who are selling off short videos those willing to splash out.

Big name celebrities on the site range from top sports stars, including boxing legend Floyd ‘Money Mayweather, to television personality Caitlyn Jenner.

But while superfans can splash out the big bucks on A-listers – some who charge into the thousands – it’s the not-so-famous who are really cashing in.

Casts members young and old from the Harry Potter series – some of whom have drifted into relative obscurity since the ending of the main franchise – are among the most popular on Cameo.  

The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins, a name which most commonly crops up around Christmas, is also a surprise hit on the site.

And last year it was revealed Inbetweeners actor James Buckley, who played Jay Cartwright in the hit series, was one of the site’s most prolific shoutout creators.

The comedian, who offers fans videos in the style of his foul-mouthed character, made an average of 37 videos a day in 2020.

And, according to figures from the company, the 33-year-old could have raked in as much as £300,000 from Cameo last year. 

Alongside its stars, the company’s shareholders are also set to reap the rewards of the celebrity greetings app.

The Chicago-based company, which turns four this year, has recently been valued at a whopping $1billion.

Originally launched by Martin Blencowe, a British tech entrepreneur from Brighton, the firm makes its money by taking a 25 per cent cut of the fees for the celebrity shout-outs. 

The site works by fans searching for their favourite celebrity. They can then request them to make a personalised video.

Fans can even send directions about the words, theme or style of video they want.

Though people can order videos for themselves, most people request personalised messages for their friends.

And, if requested, videos can be rude and foul-mouthed.

Former Monty Python star John Cleese, who charges up to £350 for a video, even asks people to ‘provide extra details’ to make the experience more ‘personalised and rude’. 

Celebrities charge hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds for the videos.

Caitlyn Jenner currently charges the most on Cameo, with a video costing £1,875 and a direct message costing £14.99.

According to the star’s profile, the money from the videos goes to her Caitlyn Jenner Foundation.  

Today MailOnline looks at some of the stars who are helping drive the growing Cameo craze. 

The figures used are not definitive and are an estimate calculated from the number of reviews and the cost a celebrity currently charges for a video.

Some stars on Cameo may have made more videos, but have not received as many reviews.

MailOnline today requested definitive figures for a top 10 from Cameo, but the company declined to provide them.

UK top earners

Tom Felton: 396 reviews: Cost: £449.25 – 25 per cent = £133,428 estimated earnings

The Harry Potter star is best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series. 

Though the 33-year-old continues to act, and most recently starred in the American child’s horror film A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, his career has never quite reached the highs of his childhood super-stardom.  

But he has magicked his way to the top of the Cameo rich-list.

Felton, originally from Epsom, Surrey, has posted personalised videos on the site, in which he is seen singing and playing guitar.

He is one of the priciest UK Cameo stars, at £449 a video. 

But spellbound fans don’t seem to care, as he’s received almost 400 postive reviews, while raking in at least £133,000.

James Buckley: 3,100 reviews – £41.25 – 25 per cent = £95,000 estimated earnings

The Inbetweeners star, who played the boastful Jay Cartwright in the Channel 4 comedy series, is thought to be one of the most active Cameo stars around.

Fans often cough up his £41.25 fee for a shout-out video from the comedian, who usually delivers with lines from his trademark Jay character. 

And he’s straight to the point about why he’s on Cameo – money. 

He previously told the Sun said: ‘I always got asked for messages but couldn’t be bothered, until I found out I could do it for money.

‘So if you want me to congratulate your brother’s birthday or maybe hurl some abuse at a friend of yours who is getting married, I can do that all for you now – for a fee.’

He has 3,100 reviews on the website, meaning he has earned at least £95,000.

However, according to reports last year, he is said to have made at least 10,000 videos in 2020 and made around £300,000.  

John Cleese: 329 reviews – £337.50 – 25 per cent = £83,278 estimated earnings

The legendary Monty Python star is comedy royalty and made millions from his exploits.

But he faced an expensive divorce bill in 2009, when he reached a £12million settlement in his acrimonious divorce from his third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger. 

It was reported at the time that the huge settlement may have been the reason behind his decision to go back on tour with Monty Python shortly after. 

He’s also faced criticism in the past over his willingness over his choice of advertising campaigns.

Over the years, he has sung the virtues of Schweppes drinks, Planters Pretzels and Accurist watches.

He plundered a scene from Monty Python’s Life Of Brian to plug the delights of the BBC TV licence. 

And he has, the past, enthused about Maxwell House coffee, BT and American Express.

Now he’s made a name for himself on Cameo – encouraging users to send him ‘extra details to enable the Cameo video to be more personalised and rude’.

He’s up there with some of the most costly Cameo stars, at £337.50 a video. 

But the 81-year-old funny man is still in popular demand, with at least 329 reviews.

It means the actor has netted at least £83,278 from Cameo.

Oliver Phelps: 811 reviews – £93.75 – 25 per cent = £57,000 estimated earnings and James Phelps: 755 reviews – £93.75 – 25 per cent =  £53,086 estimated earnings

Brothers off-screen and on screen, twins Oliver and James Phelps, were again thrust into superstardom at a young age playing the Weasley twins – Fred and George.

But the work appears to have largely dried up for the pair since, with a handful of film credits to their name since the end of the smash-hit series. 

The pair did star in the BBC made for television film Danny and the Human Zoo in 2015, and they are again set to star together in the upcoming Last Night in Soho.

But with legions of Harry Potter fans still interested in their lives, they have decided to rake in the cash on Cameo, charging £93.75 each for their videos.

Oliver appears the most popular, with 811 reviews, though James is not far behind, on 755 reviews.

Graham McTavish: 355 reviews – £105 – 25 per cent = £27,597 estimated earnings

Scottish actor Graham James McTavish is best known for his role as Dwalin in The Hobbit film trilogy – and another cashing in off the back of big-hit franchises.

The 60-year-old is also popular on Cameo, with more than 355 reviews.

Charging £105 per video, the Hobbit star has raked in at least £27,597 from the site. 

The actor’s videos include personalised messages, including birthday messages to those who request it. 

Justin Hawkins: 533 reviews – £56.25 – 25 per cent = £22,486 estimated earnings

The musician was a big name in the early 2000s when he burst onto the scene as the lead singer of the Darkness. 

He split from the band in 2006, and along with fleeting TV appearance, his name is one that most often crops up around Christmas. 

However the Darkness frontman has, in recent times, managed to shine a bit of light in the world of Cameo. 

He often creates personalised birthday messages for fans who are willing to pay the £56.25 video fee he commands. 

The musician, who recently appeared on the Masked Singer, racked up 533 reviews, it means he has earned at least £22,486 from the app. 

Miltos Yerolemou: 410 review – £56.25 – 25 per cent = £17,297 estimated earnings

The British actor is best known for his role as Syrio Forel in the HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.

He’s also made appearances in films such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

But in a galaxy much closer to home he’s also made a tidy sum making videos on Cameo.

With his videos costing £56.25, and 410 reviews, he’s earned at least £17,297 from the app. 

Miriam Margolyes: 204 reviews – £127.50 – 25 per cent = £19,508 estimated earnings

The fourth Harry Potter star to feature on the list. The British-Australian actress played Professor Sprout in the series.

One of the pricier UK Cameo stars, a video from the 79-year-old star will set you back £127.50.

The actress has 204 reviews, meaning she has received at least £19,508. 

James Cosmo: 470 reviews – £37.50 – 25 per cent = £13,219 estimated earnings

Fellow Game of Thrones actor is also a hit on Cameo. The Scottish actor played Jeor Mormont in the hit series.

Fans can get a video for £37.50. And with more than 470 reviews, it means the Clydebank actor has netted at least £13,219 

The Cameo Rich list 2020 in the US – according to analysis by Broadbandchoices.co.uk

As with the UK figures, the estimates are based on the number of reviews and the cost of the videos. Celebrities may have made more videos but received less reviews.

Michael Rapaport: 1,176 reviews – £157 cost – 25 per cent = £138,513 estimated earnings

Actor Michael Rapaport last year became the most successful celebrity to record custom content on Cameo.

The War at Home star received a staggering 1,176 reviews as of July last year and at a cost of £157 a video, raked in at least £138,513.  

Brian Baumgartener: 1,124 reviews – £145 cost – 25 per cent = £122,446 estimated earnings

Baumgartner made over $1 million in bookings in 2020, becoming the unlikely breakout star of Cameo. 

Baumgartner became a fan favorite on The Office over nine seasons and 201 episodes by playing the bumbling account Kevin Malone. 

According to the analysis, he had 1,124 reviews last year and with videos costing £145, could have made more than £122,446.

Gilbert Gottfried: 1,304 reviews – £125 cost = £121,761 estimated earnings

The New York comedian shrill voice has proven popular on Cameo, where he will give you and your friends a shout out for £125.

As of July last year, he had 1,304 reviews at a cost of £125 a video, meaning he could have made at least £121,761 from the app.

Kevin O’Leary: 152 reviews – £996 cost = £113,544 estimated earnings

Terence Thomas Kevin O’Leary is a Canadian businessman, author, politician, and television personality.

He might not be a well-known name in the UK, but in the US he stars in the US series of Dragon’s Den – known as Shark Tank.

A true businessman, he charged £996 per video. He’s managed 152 reviews, meaning he’s made at least £113,544 from Cameo – mere Pocket change, for a man estimated to be worth $400million.

James Murray: 474 reviews – £291 costs = £103,476 estimated earnings

Star of the improvisation comedy series Impractical Jokers, Murray, known as Murr, is a big hit on Cameo.

He charges a £291 for his personalised videos, and has 474 reviews, meaning he has made at least £103,476 from the site as of July. 

Sean Astin: 553 reviews – £245 costs = £101,822 estimated earnings

Another Lord of the Rings star to feature in the Cameo Rich list. American actor Astin played Samwise Gamgee in the series.

He charged £245 for a video, and with 553 reviews is believed to have made at least £101,822 from Cameo.  

Perez Hilton: 1,677 reviews – £75 costs = £93,967 estimated earnings 

American blogger, columnist, and media personality Perez Hilton is best known for his blogs and videos about the stars. But, in the process, he became quite the start himself.

He sells videos on Cameo for £75 each. And with 1677 reviews, has raked in at least £93,967 from the site. 

David and Annie Tobrowsky: 2,509 reviews – £47 costs = £89,026 estimated earnings

Stars of the TLC hit franchise 90 Day Fiancé, an American series that follows couples who have applied for or received a visa, available uniquely to foreign fiancés of U.S. citizens.  

The pair are popular on Cameo, and have more than £2,509 reviews. At a modest £47 per video, they are believed to have made up to £89,026.

Sonja Morgan: 1244 reviews – £82 costs = £76,665 estimated earnings

Best known for the Real Housewives of New York, the TV personality  wishes fans a happy birthday on pre-recorded video for $99, or a 10-minute Zoom call for $500. 

Debbie Gibson: 587 reviews – £162 costs = £71,255 estimated earnings

The American singer-songwriter has been around the US music scene for a while, having released her debut album Out of the Blue in 1987.

She’s also had international hits and has starred on Broadway.

A video from the 50-year-old, who is from New York, will cost you £162. With 587 reviews, she is believed to have made at least £71,255 from the site.